* I want a system configuration manager than not only tracks installed packages, but can track the stuff I install from source files, the stuff I create for myself, and the customization of packages.
I use RPM for this. Instead of just installing from a tarball, you can create of an RPM of the tarball, and use the standard rpm tools for tracking what's what. Same thing with customization. RPM is actually a pretty easy tool to use.
* I want tjhe SUSE install script to have an "Install everything" checkbox.
Ask SuSE. KRUD/Red Hat has this option.
* I want the library file tree (and others as needed) to be version controlled so that multi versions of a library can coexist peacefully. Way to much stuff gets broken when upgrading packages.
RPM copes with multiple versions of a library, with a bit of tweaking.
* I want a smart "help" script. Possible updated with cron. And twoi levels of it -- at least. A non-privileged user gets user oriented help, but admins get another flavor. Written in tcl/tk and easily modified by system admins. A fancy and helpful troubleshooting guide. Not all system admins are expert at all the tools and system configurations.
I usually use the application help for this sort of thing, but you may want to set up a wiki for your user-level documentation. There are many wiki's on freshmeat.
* Another install wish is to allow installation of services packages without assuming I want them all running!
KRUD/Red Hat has a script called chkconfig. This allows you to turn on and off your services for each different run levels. I suspect SuSE has something equivalent.
linux config
I use RPM for this. Instead of just installing from a tarball, you can create of an RPM of the tarball, and use the standard rpm tools for tracking what's what. Same thing with customization. RPM is actually a pretty easy tool to use.
* I want tjhe SUSE install script to have an "Install everything" checkbox.
Ask SuSE. KRUD/Red Hat has this option.
* I want the library file tree (and others as needed) to be version controlled so that multi versions of a library can coexist peacefully. Way to much stuff gets broken when upgrading packages.
RPM copes with multiple versions of a library, with a bit of tweaking.
* I want a smart "help" script. Possible updated with cron. And twoi levels of it -- at least. A non-privileged user gets user oriented help, but admins get another flavor. Written in tcl/tk and easily modified by system admins. A fancy and helpful troubleshooting guide. Not all system admins are expert at all the tools and system configurations.
I usually use the application help for this sort of thing, but you may want to set up a wiki for your user-level documentation. There are many wiki's on freshmeat.
* Another install wish is to allow installation of services packages without assuming I want them all running!
KRUD/Red Hat has a script called chkconfig. This allows you to turn on and off your services for each different run levels. I suspect SuSE has something equivalent.